The minifigs are not anatomically correct so the scale of 1/55 you are describing could be discussed. Usually, the used scaled is somewhere between 1/43 and 1/47. Also the set has a volume so if length is 1,5x, then height is 1,5x and width is 1,5x so part count would be 3,375x.
Wait and see, 9 days to go !

The next UCS will be, according to most rumors and according to some well informed persons, a new Millenium Falcon. Lego has been teasing about a huge set which might be this one. The volume of the box would be +/- 96230cm3. The volume of the 10179 is +/- 60390. How could be justified this 50% increase in box size :
Lego is not teasing for the next UCS ?
The next UCS is not a Millennium Falcon ?
It's not a display set but some kind of huge play set / base themed around the Millenium Falcon ?
The Millennium Falcom come with a big decorated stand ?
The Millennium Falcon is bigger than the previous one ?
The part density is higher ? An interior maybe ?
They choose a special packaging for marketing reasons ?

$50 for these instructions is nothing for the work there is behind and is nothing compared to the price of the parts !
Thanks for the part list, it's going to be very useful planing my 50000 (now) part orders and I'll soon contact you for the instructions ;-)